Wal-Mart Enlists (right wing)Bloggers in P.R. Campaign

[RedEarth]

Brian Pickrell, a blogger, recently posted a note on his Web site attacking state legislation that would force Wal-Mart Stores to spend more on employee health insurance. "All across the country, newspaper editorial boards — no great friends of business — are ripping the bills," he wrote.

It was the kind of pro-Wal-Mart comment the giant retailer might write itself. And, in fact, it did. Several sentences in Mr. Pickrell's Jan. 20 posting — and others from different days — are identical to those written by an employee at one of Wal-Mart's public relations firms and distributed by e-mail to bloggers.

Under assault as never before, Wal-Mart is increasingly looking beyond the mainstream media and working directly with bloggers, feeding them exclusive nuggets of news, suggesting topics for postings and even inviting them to visit its corporate headquarters.

But the strategy raises questions about what bloggers, who pride themselves on independence, should disclose to readers. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, has been forthright with bloggers about the origins of its communications, and the company and its public relations firm, Edelman, say they do not compensate the bloggers.

But some bloggers have posted information from Wal-Mart, at times word for word, without revealing where it came from.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/technology/07blog.html?_r=2&ei=5094&en=4ae93d6a6547651a&hp=&ex=1141707600&adxnnl=0&oref=slogin&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1141737207-sck/nxgpB+WIJujRMcPwGA&pagewanted=print

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. What should we call them? BlogWhores? nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. WhoreMart Bloggers.

[Coexist]

3. I believe Armstrong Williams is available for pundit spots

:evilgrin:

[tularetom]

4. Wonder if any of the good bloggers got e-mails

and just shit canned them? Any DU bloggers receive this BS from wally world?

[underpants]

5. Okay-so RW bloggers support Walmart which uses social services

to supplement their workers incomes and basically as their health care plan which are funded with taxes paid by everyone including RW bloggers who most surely also post complaints about taxes being too high and spent in wasteful ways.

:wow:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. WalMart sells astroturf to the internets

film at 11

[NJmaverick]

7. For Sale- RW Bloggers, will tell any lie you want!

That pretty much sums it up.

[KurtNYC]

8. Just don't ask them to put it into their own words

Wal-Mart has warned bloggers against lifting text from the e-mail it sends them. After apparently noticing the practice, Mr. Manson asked them to "resist the urge," because "I'd be sick if someone ripped you because they noticed a couple of bloggers with nearly identical posts."

The only creativity they have is with spelling Mr. Manson.

I also note that this is the same technique used by the * Admin: WalMart gives early leads and access to friendly outlets in exchange for friendly PR.

[NJmaverick]

9. LOL that is funny in a pathetic sort of way

Shame the public doesn't understand the true nature of your typical right winger.